Cigarette lighter



June 8, 1943.

l. FLORMAN 2,321,135

CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed-Aug. 15, 1940 *EFQM/ng 17' Zornmw,

Patented June 8, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE 2,321,135 CIGARETTE LIGHTER Irving Florman, New York, N. Y.

Application August 1K3, 1940, Serial No.` 352,430

l (ci. 1 -7.1)

6 Claims.

This invention relates to lighters, and particularly to pocket lighters for cigars and cigarettes.

The primary object of the invention is to :provide a lighter of simple structure which operates with certainty at all times.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pyrophoric lighter with means which oiler resistance to the movement of the actuating means, which resistance is only released by a given pressure, so that the actuating means will be moved suddenly and sharply to impart av quick movement to the igniting mechanism. v

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a lighter of this type which furnishes a large fuel space, and in which the mechanism is located within the vertical projections of the 4walls of the fuel space. In this way a lighter which will operate for some time without refill-f ing, yet which occupiesa 'small amount of space and is certain of operation, is produced.

One diillculty in the operation of lighters of the pyrophoric type lies` in the accumulation of flint chips around the base of the wick and on the 4wick itself. These chips often clog or cover f the wick to such an extent that it will not catch flre. A further object of'the invention is to provide means which prevent this accumulation of ilint chips on the wick.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the provision of means which impart a wiping action to the wicktube at each operation of the lighter, which serves to wipe oil flint chips therefrom.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will -appear more fully from the following description, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms a part thereof.

Inthe drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a lighter ingmyinvention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Y Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are cross sections on the lines 3 3, 4 4, 5-6 and 6-6, respectively, of F1822.

The lighter comprises a body formed of side walls 2, end walls 4, a bottom wall 6 and a top wall l.` The body so formed constitutes the fuel chamber andis filled with absorbent cotton Il, or other suitable material, for holding a liquid fuel. It may be nlled through a threaded plug embody- I2 in the bottom wall.6.

Extending through the body and fuel chamber isailinttube I4 closedatthebottombya threaded plug Il and containing a coil spring I6 which engages the bottom of a flint 2li, PTSS ing the ilintvupwardly. The flint engages the periphery of a flint wheel 22 which is mounted on a shaft 24 carried in ears 26 upstandlng from the top wall 8. By rotation of the wheel 2 2, sparks are produced from the flint 26.

The wick 2li extends upwardly through a wick tube 30, likewise mounted in the top wall 8. The wick, of course, extends downwardly into thc absorbent cotton lli andl dra-ws fluid therefrom.

Mounted on the outside ofthe ears 2-6 is a snuier member having side walls 3,2 which are pivoted on screws 34 .threaded into the ends of shaft 24. The snuer also`has a top wall 36.

On one side of the pivot 24 the top wall 36 is bent upwardly to form a finger piece -38. At the other end, there is provided a front wall 40 closing the space between the side walls I2 and the top wall 36.

'The construction of a lighter of this general type is well known. However, according tothe invention, there is carried on the wick tube 3l an annular projection of generally rounded cross section 42. This is securely mounted on the outl side of the -wick tube above the top wall 6 of the fuel chamber. Connected tothe snuffer in a manner-'to be described is a flint chip wiper and catch member in the form of spring wire. The ends of this spring wire, indicated at 44, are engaged above inward projections 46 on the lower edges of walls 32 adjacent the front wall 40 of the snuffer. The wires then have horizontal por` tions extending rearwardly towards the pivot 24 and bent inwardly towards each other, as indicated at 46. These portions 46 end in upwardly extending portions 66 which then are-connected by a U-shaped portion 62 which rests at close to the top wall 36 of the snuil'er. The space between the arched or bowed Portions 48 is less v than the greatest diameter of the annular member 42, and preferably about equal to the outside diameter of wick tube 36.

A snuiier cap 64 is arranged within the snufi'er andabove the wick tube. This snuifer cap is connected to the top wall 36 by a screw or other securing member 466. Screw 66 passes through the bight of the U-shaped' portion 52 cf the spring, and this portion 52 Ais held closeto the top wall 36 by the cap 64 (see Figs. 2 and 3).

AMotion is imparted to the flint wheel 22 by a pawl formed of a flat leaf spring member havv ing a portion 66 pierced by screw 56 and arranged between portion 62 of the wire .and the top wall 36 of the snuiler, and a projecting pawl portion having a downwardly bent end 62 forming a tooth which is engageable with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 64 rigidly secured to the ilint wheel 22.

The operation of the mechanism above described is as follows:

When the mechanism is in the positionl shown in Fig. 2, in order to operate the vlighter the finger or thumb is applied to the linger piece 38 and a downward pressure is exerted thereon in the direction indicated by the arrow. Since the spring portions 48 are beneath the greatest diameter of they annular member 42, they will resist any upward movement of the snuifer until their resilience is overcome. When suillcient pressure is applied, however, the spring members 48 will suddently release the snuiIer and it will rise with a quick motion. As the snutfer rises, spring. portions 48 move over the outside of wick -tube 30 and then over the wick, thus removing iiint chips therefrom. At the same time, the pawl 62 turns wheel 64 and thereby flint wheel 22 to throw sparks onto the cleaned wick 28. Because of the sudden motion produced by a considerable pressure, this movement ofthe flint wheel will be in the nature of a snap motion and will be certain to produce a suillcient spark to ignite the wick. The snuffer may then be returned by pressure of the hand to its normal or closed position. As it moves downwardly, the spring portions 48 will again remove iiint chips from the wick and wick tube, and then snap over the ring 42 to hold the snuffer member against accidental opening in the pocket.

It will be noted that the lighter mechanism is located completely within the vertical projections of the walls 2 and 4 of the fuel chamber, and that it is located entirely above the top wall and the upper edges of the side walls, this being the most compact arrangement and giving the greatest available fuel space. y

While I have described herein one embodiment of my invention, I wish it to-be understoodand that I do not intend to limit myself thereby, except within the scope of the Iappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a cigarette lighter, a fuel chamber, a wick tube, a wick in said wick tube communicating with said fuel chamber, a pivoted snufIer movable to cover and uncover said wick, means operated by movement of said snuifer Ato uncover the wick to project a spark upon said wick, manual means to move .said snuier, said wick tube having an annular projection thereon, and wire spring members carried by said snuifer and having portions opposite said annular projection, the space between said portions being less than the maximum diameter of said projection, whereby said portions may snap over and engage beneath said projection so as to prevent movement of said snuffer until a predetermined pressure is applied to said manual means and then wipe the wick tube and wick as they move upwardly thereover.

2. In a cigarette lighter, a fuel chamber, wick tube, a wickin said wick tube communicating with said fuel chamber, a snuffermovable to cover and uncover said wick, means operated by movement of said snuifer to uncover the wick to project a spark upon said wick, manual means to move said snuifer, said wick tube having an annular Aprojection thereon, wire spring members carried by said snuil'er and having bowed portions opposite said annular projection, the space between said bowed portions being less than the maximum diameter of said'projection, whereby said bowed portions may snap over and engage beneath said projection so as to prevent movev 5 ment'of said snuifer until a predetermined pressure is applied to said manual means and then wipe the wick tube and wick as they move upwardly thereover, a cap secured within the snufler above the wick, said spring members havl0 ing a connecting portion arranged between the" vcap and the snuffer and heldin position thereby.

3. In a lighter, spark-producing mechanism,

wick holding means, manual means for operating said spark-producing mechanism, and cooperating means on saidwick holding means and said-manual means for normally preventing operation of said manual means until a predel termined pressure has been applied thereto and for imparting a wiping action to said wick tube and wick when such predetermined pressure is applied and the spark producing mechanism is operated.

4. In a cigarette lighter, a fuel chamber, a wick tube, a wick in said wick tube communicato ing with said fuel chamber, a snuifer movable to vcover and uncover said wick, means operated by movement of said snuifer to uncover the wick to project a spark upon said wick, said wick' tube having a projection thereon, and spring members carried by said snuier and having portions opposite said projection, the space between said portions being less than the maximum diameter of said projection, whereby said portions may wipe said wick and tube and may snap over and engage beneath said projection so as to premined pressure is applied thereto.

5. In a cigarettelighter, a fuel chamber, a Jwick tube, a wick in said wick tube communi- 46 cating with-said fuel chamber, a pivoted snuifer movable to cover and uncover said wick, a cap secured withinV the snuier above the wick, means operated by movement of said snuifer to uncover the wick to project a spark upon said wick, manual means to move said snufi'er, said wick tube having an annular projection thereon, and a con- Y -tinuous wire spring having anintermediate U- shaped portion arranged between said cap and snuifer and held in position thereby, bowed portions opposite said annular projection, and free ends adjacent the lower-edge of the snuifer, said .snuffer having inward projections at its lower edge engaging said free end s, the space between said bowed portions being less than the maximum diameter of said wick tube, whereby said bowed portions may wipe said wick and tube andy many snap over and engage beneath said projection so as to prevent movement of said snuffer until a predetermined 'pressure is applied to said manual means.

6. In a pyrophoric lighter, an open mouthed wick tube, alwick disposed within said tube end protruding and flaring from the mouth thereof, a manually operable member for actuating the lighter, means actuated by said member during each cycle of operation thereof for producing a' pyrophoric spark to'ignite the wick, means also means for wiping the protruding portion of said wick, thereby to prevent the accumulation of flint chips thereon, and means for causing said wiping means to snap suddenly against a por-A tion of said wick to effect the wipingaction.

IRVING FLORMAN.

vent movement of said snuffer until a predeter- 

